Thomas E. Bramlette
Thomas E. Bramlette | |
|---|---|
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| 23rd Governor of Kentucky | |
| In office September 1, 1863 – September 3, 1867 | |
| Lieutenant | Richard T. Jacob |
| Preceded by | James F. Robinson |
| Succeeded by | John L. Helm |
| Member of the Kentucky General Assembly | |
| In office 1841 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Elliott Bramlette January 3, 1817 3rd Kentucky Infantry |
| Battles/wars | Civil War |
Thomas Elliott Bramlette (January 3, 1817 – January 12, 1875) was the
After the war, Bramlette issued a general pardon for most ex-Confederates in the state. He opposed ratification of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments and the establishment of the Freedmen's Bureau in Kentucky. Among his accomplishments not related to the war and its aftermath were the reduction of the state's debt and the establishment of the Kentucky Agricultural and Mechanical College (now the University of Kentucky). Following his term as governor, Bramlette returned to his legal practice in Louisville. He died January 12, 1875, and was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery.
Early life
Thomas E. Bramlette was born on January 3, 1817, at Elliott's Cross Roads in Cumberland (now Clinton) County, Kentucky.[1] He was the son of Colonel Ambrose S. and Sarah (Elliott) Bramlette.[2] His father served two terms in the Kentucky Senate and several terms in the Kentucky House of Representatives.[1]
Bramlette studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1837 at the age of 20, and began practicing in Louisville, Kentucky.[3][4] In September of that year, Bramlette married Sallie Travis, the first of his two wives.[3] The couple had two children, Thomas and Corinne.[5]
Bramlette's political career began in 1841, when he was elected to represent Clinton County in the
Military service
Bramlette resigned his judgeship and accepted a commission as a
Bramlette resigned his military commission on July 13, 1862, at
Governor of Kentucky
Union Democrats chose
Civil War
In December 1863, Bramlette addressed the General Assembly, declaring that the state had fulfilled its quota of soldiers for the Union army.
Although Bramlette assumed the governorship as a staunch supporter of the Union cause, within a year he issued a proclamation that he would "bloodily baptize the state into the Confederacy".
With the goal of enlistment of Kentucky blacks into the Union Army, Lincoln authorized a special census in 1863 which showed 1,650 freemen and 40,000 enslaved males of military age. Presented with this figure, by March 1864, Bramlette reluctantly agreed to Black enlistment since white enlistment failed to meet quota. He stipulated that owners must consent and receive $300.[11] By April, enslaved men, despite the stipulation of owner consent and motivated by the prospect for their emancipation, fled to enlist. This led to a wave of violence towards those seeking enlistment. Given this onslaught, by June 1864 owners’ consent was no longer required, as ordered by Union Army Adj. Gen. Lorenzo Thomas.[12]
The situation worsened when on July 5, 1864, President Lincoln suspended the writ of
Reconstruction era
Despite his disagreements with the Lincoln administration, Bramlette proclaimed a day of fasting and prayer upon receiving news of Lincoln's assassination.[14] The General Assembly petitioned new president Andrew Johnson to call an end to martial law in the state.[14] The tension between the state and federal governments remained, however. Bramlette announced that every "white male citizen" twenty-one years of age who had resided in the Commonwealth for at least two years would be eligible to vote.[14] Spurred on by the Democratic governor's actions, Kentucky gave control of both houses of the General Assembly and five of its nine congressional seats to Democrats. President Johnson received the message, ending martial law and restoring habeas corpus in Kentucky.[14]
When the General Assembly convened in December 1865, Bramlette sought to restore harmony in the state by issuing
Bramlette was very proud of those of his accomplishments not related to the Civil War, including the reduction of the state's debt and the establishment of the Agricultural and Mechanical College (later, the University of Kentucky).[13] He supported the construction of turnpikes financed by government bonds, the development of natural resources, and encouraged immigration to obtain adequate labor to support reconstruction efforts.[13]
Later life and death
Following his term as governor, Bramlette conducted a failed campaign to become a U.S. Senator.[3] He married Mary E. Graham Adams in 1874, two years after the death of his first wife.[3][8] He returned to his law practice in Louisville, and became a patron of many charitable organizations.[13]
Bramlette died in Louisville on January 12, 1875, following a brief illness.[15] He is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.[3]
See also
- Kentucky in the Civil War
References
- ^ a b c Allen, p. 106
- ^ a b Harrison, p. 112
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Powell, p. 56
- ^ a b NGA Bio
- ^ Webb, p. 93
- ^ a b c Trowbridge, "Kentucky's Military Governors"
- ^ a b Rawley, p. 39
- ^ a b Encyclopedia of Kentucky
- ^ "Kentucky's Governors: 1851 – 1879"
- ^ a b c d Webb, p. 94
- ISBN 0916968235.
- OCLC 1250630280.
- ^ a b c d e Harrison, p. 113
- ^ a b c d e f Webb, p. 95
- ^ Webb, p. 96
Bibliography
- Allen, William B. (1872). A History of Kentucky: Embracing Gleanings, Reminiscences, Antiquities, Natural Curiosities, Statistics, and Biographical Sketches of Pioneers, Soldiers, Jurists, Lawyers, Statesmen, Divines, Mechanics, Farmers, Merchants, and Other Leading Men, of All Occupations and Pursuits. Bradley & Gilbert. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
- The Encyclopedia of Kentucky. ISBN 0-403-09981-1.
- ISBN 0-8131-1772-0.
- "Kentucky Governor Thomas Elliott Bramlette". National Governors Association. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
- "Kentucky's Governors: 1851 – 1879". Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on 2011-05-28. Retrieved 2007-05-06.
- Powell, Robert A. (1976). Kentucky Governors. OCLC 2690774.
- Rawley, James A. (1989). Turning Points in the Civil War. Lincoln University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-8935-2.
- Trowbridge, John M. "Kentucky's Military Governors". Kentucky National Guard History e-Museum. Kentucky National Guard. Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
- Webb, Ross A. (2004). ISBN 0-8131-2326-7.
Further reading
- "Governor Thomas E. Bramlette". The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. 5: 27–28. January 1907.
External links
